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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

National Geographic Channel Worldwide release

National Geographic Channel Worldwide Announces Groundbreaking Two-hour Special Live From Space

Produce a live television event from a $100 billion studio that's 250 miles above the Earth's surface and traveling at 4.9 miles per second? That will be the task at hand this spring for National Geographic Channel (NGC) Worldwide with a television event that will literally take viewers beyond the stratosphere.

NGC President Howard T. Owens announced today Live from Space, a spectacular, groundbreaking two-hour television event from Arrow Media to be broadcast live from the International Space Station (ISS) and Mission Control in Houston this March.

With unique access to and footage from the ISS and Mission Control, we'll go into orbit with astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata from the ISS, while astronaut Mike Massimino (most notably known for fixing the Hubble Telescope) will keep us grounded live from Houston. Live from Space will air on NGC in 170 countries, and on Channel 4 in the U.K. It will also simulcast on NGC's Spanish-language network in the U.S., Nat Geo MUNDO.

The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes, meaning NGC will quite literally take viewers on a trip around the world. We'll see incredible shots of the planet, from sunset and sunrise, to city lights and green aurora, to lightning storms and shooting stars.

For those fascinated by the recent emergency spacewalks to replace a vital cooling system, Live from Space will show even more intimately what it takes to run this floating world. From space, Mastracchio and Wakata will give viewers a fully guided tour, showing us how they live for months in microgravity. In their own words, learn how they sleep upside down, stay fit, maintain personal hygiene and, of course, (that question everyone is always curious about), how they use the toilet. They'll conduct never-before-broadcast experiments that demonstrate the real-world value of the science conducted on the floating laboratory. We'll also show how science in space is benefiting people on Earth such as the ISS's robotic systems, which are the inspiration for a neurosurgical robot that removes brain tumors. Astronauts, flight controllers and researchers will be featured in original segments from the ISS and NASA Mission Control during the course of the two-hour live event.

It won't just be the astronauts doing the talking, either. Viewers will be able to chat via video with Mastracchio and Wakata and have their faces beamed into space to join the conversation. A first-of-its-kind second-screen experience will also allow viewers to track the space station while exploring the interests of people under its path. This "social-media telescope" will give viewers real-time insight into the collected cares of Earth's inhabitants. (Further details on this to be announced shortly.)

"Everyday at NGC our team tries to reach for the stars," says Owens. "Now we are literally able to do it! We are honored to have secured such amazing access to the station and the astronauts living there, and are exhilarated by the tremendous challenge to show Earth ... live ."

"We're thrilled to be making this unique event for NGC Worldwide," adds Arrow Media's creative director, Tom Brisley. "The technological and logistical challenges of broadcasting live from space may be enormous, but there's no bigger buzz than creating mind-blowing content that works in micro gravity, on the world's largest spacecraft!"

Live from Space will premiere in March to coincide with COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY, a joint venture between Fox Broadcasting Company and National Geographic Channel. More than three decades after the debut of "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage," Carl Sagan's stunning and iconic exploration of the universe as revealed by science, COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY sets off on a new voyage for the stars. Sagan's original creative collaborators - writer/executive producer Ann Druyan and astronomer Steven Soter - have teamed with Seth MacFarlane ("Family Guy," "American Dad") to conceive the 13-part series that will serve as a successor to the Emmy Award- and Peabody Award-winning original series. Hosted by renowned astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson ("Death By Black Hole," "Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier"), the series will explore how we discovered the laws of nature and found our coordinates in space and time. It will bring to life never-before-told stories of the heroic quest for knowledge and transport viewers to new worlds and across the universe for a vision of the cosmos on the grandest scale.

After more than 50 years of manned space flights, Live from Space will launch cable television into orbit with an event that is not to be missed.

Live from Space is created by Arrow Media. Creative director and executive producer at Arrow Media is Tom Brisley; Arrow Media executive producers are Al Berman and Sally Dixon. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Madeleine Carter, vice president of production is Char Serwa, senior vice president, production & development is Noel Siegel; executive vice president of programming and strategy is Heather Moran; and president is Howard T. Owens.

Robert Pearlman

National Geographic Channel has announced that journalist Soledad O'Brien will host "Live from Space" when it airs on March 14, 2014.

National Geographic Channel today announced that celebrated journalist, producer and television host Soledad O'Brien has joined the network's global television event "Live From Space" as host and co-executive producer. O'Brien will broadcast live from Mission Control in Houston during the program, taking viewers into orbit, literally circling the globe, to offer a unique perspective on astronaut life and work aboard the ISS.

The program will air LIVE on Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the National Geographic Channel in the U.S. and in 170 other countries, and on Channel 4 in the U.K. It will also simulcast on NGC's Spanish-language network in the U.S., Nat Geo Mundo.

"With more than 25 years of live television experience, Soledad is the perfect partner for this incredibly exciting television moment," said NGC president Howard T. Owens. "We are ecstatic to have her join us to bring to life the thrilling pulse of this live broadcast."

"It's an honor to be the host and co-executive producer of such an ambitious and important event. I'm thrilled to further my relationship with my partners at National Geographic to tell the untold story that unfolds above the sky each day," said O'Brien. "For those that were thrilled by Gravity, I think they'll be even more impressed by the incredible work being done every day aboard the ISS and the tremendous risks and sacrifices the astronauts undertake. We will get to witness the greatest show beyond earth."

A critically acclaimed journalist, documentarian, news anchor, producer and television personality, O'Brien has been on the forefront of the biggest breaking news stories of the past two decades, reported from around the globe for NBC News, MSNBC, CNN, Al Jazeera America and HBO. In 2011 won an Emmy for "Crisis in Haiti Report" on Haitian orphanages, following the massive earthquake. In 2013 she won 2 Emmy awards for reporting on "Kids and Race" and for the networks reporting of the 2012 Presidential election.

Her coverage of Hurricane Katrina earned her and CNN a George Foster Peabody award. She also received another Peabody award for her coverage of the BP Gulf coast Oil Spill. Her reporting on the Southeast Asia tsunami garnered CNN an Alfred I DuPont award.

In June of 2013, O'Brien launched Starfish Media Group, a multi-platform media production and distribution company, dedicated to uncovering and producing empowering stories that take a challenging look at the often divisive issues of race, class, wealth, poverty and opportunity, through personal stories.

O'Brien will return to the network in May as moderator of the National Geographic Bee, the National Geographic Society's annual geography competition for fourth-through eighth-graders.

With unique access to and footage from the ISS and Mission Control, on March 14 National Geographic Channel's "Live From Space" will go into orbit with astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata from the ISS. Astronaut Mike Massimino (most notably known for fixing the Hubble Telescope) will keep viewers grounded with O'Brien live from Houston. The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes, meaning NGC will quite literally take viewers on a trip around the world, sharing incredible looks at the planet, from sunset and sunrise, to city lights and green aurora, to lightning storms and shooting stars.

Mastracchio and Wakata will give viewers a fully guided tour of the space lab, showing how they live for months in microgravity. In their own words, learn how they sleep upside down, stay fit, maintain personal hygiene and, of course, (that question everyone is always curious about), how they use the toilet. They'll conduct never-before-broadcast experiments that demonstrate the real-world value of the science conducted on the floating laboratory.

We'll also show how science in space is benefiting people on Earth such as the ISS's robotic systems, which are the inspiration for a neurosurgical robot that removes brain tumors. Astronauts, flight controllers and researchers will be featured in original segments from the ISS and NASA Mission Control during the course of the two-hour live event.

Robert Pearlman

National Geographic Channel announcement

Have a question for a NASA astronaut? Wave #HelloFromEarth with an Instagram pic along with your question. You may be selected to have your question answered during Live From Space on 3/14!

p51

Yet another channel my cable provider doesn't have, so it's yet another show I'll never get to see...

Space station history will be made on Friday night (March 14) and it will be broadcast "Live From Space" for the world to watch.

For the first time, NASA is opening the doors to its active Mission Control Center in Houston and letting a television broadcast follow the International Space Station (ISS) live as it completes a full orbit of the Earth.

The two-hour "Live From Space" special, which National Geographic Channel will air at 8:00 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT), will give viewers the opportunity to interact with the space station's crew, while also offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to operate the orbiting laboratory.

Robert Pearlman

Space.com interview with host Soledad O'Brien:

Robert Pearlman

So who watched? What did you think?

GACspaceguy

It is on DVR with hopes to watch it soon. Will let you know when we watch it.

Some have Dish/Direct TV because they are frustrated with cable TV. We have it because we are down loading a signal from a satellite, how cool is that!

alanh_7

I watched. It had some interesting segments. Mike Massimino was personable and interesting as always. The man is a natural. Soledad O'Brien was okay.

It was very interesting to see Mike Hopkins live just days after his return from the ISS. I found the whole interactive concept interesting. It was a solid show well worth watching.

garymilgrom

The broadcast did a good job of showing the effort needed to live and work in space and support the ISS on the ground, plus the science being conducted and the fun part of living in space. It also showed the beauty of Earth in several pre-filmed segments. These were a great idea as they allowed for clear views of everywhere.

I thought Soledad was the weakest link. Someone more knowledgeable hosting would be more to my liking, but perhaps she's good for the ratings. And the astronauts saying "That's an excellent question" after EVERY question showed a bit of the scripting behind the scenes.

But these are minor quibbles from a committed space geek. So overall - very good.

onesmallstep

It was a good program that perhaps showed the public at large what really goes on up on ISS now that that the shuttle program has ended, and maybe that US manned space flight is not in a downturn (although the image of Americans flying and landing in a -gasp- Russian capsule may rankle some, especially given current events).

But the best moments, at least for me, was the segment showing former station astronaut Frank Culbertson talking about fellow Annapolis classmate Charles 'Chic' Burlingame and his death on 9/11. Burlingame was pilot of the airliner that crashed into the Pentagon, and the program showed stunning video from the ISS looking down on Manhattan as one of the towers collapsed, spewing smoke for miles. I was an eyewitness too, from a pier on Staten Island on that tragic day.

Culbertson, in a poignant note, then was shown taking his trumpet while onboard the ISS on 9/11, and start to play the mournful notes of 'taps' in remembrance of all who perished. A memorable segment in an otherwise fine documentary.

Chariot412

Robert, what did you think?

328KF

I thought it was well done. I'm pretty sure there was an inside joke there between the recently returned Mike and Rick on ISS. Earlier in the show, Rick was shown unpacking a spicy "hot dog relish" from the Cygnus that his wife had sent up.

At the end of the segment, Mike said something to the effect of "thanks for that relish...it was a real treat on the way home." Given the way Rick was smiling and waving his finger at Mike on camera, he wasn't talking about how it tasted....

Robert Pearlman

That exchange between Mike, Rick and Koichi was perhaps my favorite moment of the broadcast, as it really conveyed the friendships that form while working aboard the space station for six months.

quote:Originally posted by Chariot412:Robert, what did you think?

I thought it was very well done.

I generally like Soledad O'Brien and I thought she did a fine job as host, though I found it funny how she reacted every time a crew member wasn't floating upright. She'd say, "You're a bit tilted to me right now," or words to that effect, every time Rick or Koichi positioned themselves sideways or at an angle.

And I don't think I have ever heard anyone call Robonaut scary before (though once it has its legs and is able to move without the crew's interaction, I could see how R2 might spook someone making a late night bathroom run).

The taped segments were well produced and included new footage, which was good to see. I might have swapped out either the pump module or the helmet flooding emergencies for a package (or live shot) that focused more on the science being conducted aboard, but I can understand wanting to include both.

I was glad to see Koichi turn the camera around and show Mikhail (a brief shot that had to be negotiated in advance with Roscosmos, I am told), and I was glad to see them change locations on the station more than once (I cannot think of another live interview on the space station where that was possible).

There was just one missed opportunity I would have really liked to have seen. When Rick floated by his crew quarters, his laptop was open to Twitter. I would have loved if he had taken a moment on camera to send a tweet that we could have all seen arrive in our feeds seconds later. It could have been something simple as "Hello World!" but I think it would have really emphasized the "Live From Space" nature of the broadcast.

JBoe

I haven't had a chance to watch, but from everyone's reviews it sound's like a good one.

Robert Pearlman

The full two-hour special will encore this Friday (March 21) at 4 p.m. EDT, followed by a one-hour version at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT.

And at 9 p.m. Friday, the world-premiere special Living in Space will premiere on National Geographic Channel.

According to National Geographic, the first airing set a social media record:

The special generated approximately 50,000 tweets during broadcast, doubling the previous record for NGC, set by "Killing Kennedy" in November. It also trended No. 1 worldwide on Twitter during the first hour, at which point #LiveFromSpace was generating 315 tweets a minute. And from 8-10 p.m. ET, it was the most buzzed about non-sports television program in the U.S. During that same time, the No. 2 most buzzed about non-sports television program in the U.S. was the Nat Geo Mundo Spanish-language simulcast.

dogcrew5369

Thanks Robert for announcing a re-airing of this show. I was out of town and forgot to set my DVR. Looking forward to watching the not-so-live broadcast.

Joel Katzowitz

I watched some of it live but captured the entire broadcast on my DVR which I'll get to soon. What I saw I really enjoyed. I wasn't crazy about Soledad in her role and kept wishing Miles was sitting in her seat. Yes, different networks, I know, but still...